Best intercooler for mk2?

Which intercooler for you?

  • Forge Motorsport TWINtercooler

    Votes: 10 45.5%
  • Pro Alloy intercooler

    Votes: 1 4.5%
  • THS Performance intercooler

    Votes: 3 13.6%
  • OEM Audi S3 intercooler

    Votes: 5 22.7%
  • APR intercooler

    Votes: 3 13.6%

  • Total voters
    22

R 20vt J

Ross Jamieson
Mar 29, 2007
791
0
Irvine, Scotland
Buying my intercooler soon and just thought i would do a poll of which intercoolers people have or which intercoolers people plan on buying.

Opinions on all coolers welcome.
 
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Poverty

Guest
depends on how far you want to push things and how deep your pockets are and whether you would consider deleting the AC core.

The main two choices are the forge and THS imo.

S3 cooler, plus forge twintercooler, plus ac delete gives super cool intake temps.
 

Al

Active Member
Aug 29, 2005
7,326
9
depends on how far you want to push things and how deep your pockets are and whether you would consider deleting the AC core.

The main two choices are the forge and THS imo.

S3 cooler, plus forge twintercooler, plus ac delete gives super cool intake temps.

Actually a/c delete with S3 core and twintercooler is approx the same as the S3 core with a/c delete. I have logs to prove it less than 5% difference.
 
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Poverty

Guest
Actually a/c delete with S3 core is approx the same as the S3 core with a/c delete. I have logs to prove it less than 5% difference.

with the a/c delete does the intercooler then sit out completely exposed or is there another rad stacked infront of it?

If its out infront then it should suffice its basically twice the size as an TTRS cooler. A chap forced in a THS cooler to his TTRS which is 650% bigger than stock or something silly like that.

What where the ambient and intake temps on the runs and the duration of the pulls?
 

Al

Active Member
Aug 29, 2005
7,326
9
The a/c core is the only thing that sits infront of the intercooler so when its out of there, you have 100% of oncoming air straight on to whatever is in the OEM intercooler position - thats the idea of the Forge Twintercooler - to catch all the cold air first.

I would think that an APR or THS with a/c delete would be as good an option efficiency wise as an S3 and forge, and it would work out cheaper too. Being honest, I would probably say that would be more efficient as its thicker than the S3 and will have no obstruction (twintercooler) in front of it.

Will need to look back at the logs, but they were done back to back on the same day on the same road with the same temp. 20 something degrees rings a bell.
 

Al

Active Member
Aug 29, 2005
7,326
9
By the way I never voted as the combo I would choose is not there.
 

Poverty

Guest
The a/c core is the only thing that sits infront of the intercooler so when its out of there, you have 100% of oncoming air straight on to whatever is in the OEM intercooler position - thats the idea of the Forge Twintercooler - to catch all the cold air first.

I would think that an APR or THS with a/c delete would be as good an option efficiency wise as an S3 and forge, and it would work out cheaper too. Being honest, I would probably say that would be more efficient as its thicker than the S3 and will have no obstruction (twintercooler) in front of it.

Will need to look back at the logs, but they were done back to back on the same day on the same road with the same temp. 20 something degrees rings a bell.

Only thing with thicker rads is added pressure loss, which granted is the same for the twintercooler. Area over volume it seems is best for coolers.

If the s3 cooler on its own can cope with a/c delete it could very well be the most efficient option.
 

Al

Active Member
Aug 29, 2005
7,326
9
Being honest, I can't recall any reports of pressure loss on any of the above intercoolers due to core volumes.
 

vRSy

Fabia vRS
Jan 8, 2009
1,470
1
London
i bet even the stock IC would perform enough if you removed the Rad in front of it. definitely a very good mod. I warned TFSI_mike about it though as i know first hand how hot it gets in germany in the summer, and he said it was hacking having no aircon. might be OK in Scotland, but it gets hot everywhere else in the world:p

for what its worth ve never heard anyone with an uprated IC mention pressure loss, its always guys that havent got one that mention it normally. the guys with the uprated IC's normally say the opposite.
 

Poverty

Guest
Well thats the ting in the tuning world, sometimes people can get a bit overly anal about these things, the theory makes sense, but then in reality can you actually notice it?
 

R 20vt J

Ross Jamieson
Mar 29, 2007
791
0
Irvine, Scotland
I had never thought of that to be honest! Think i might get rid of the ac then!

I will update the poll when i am home! On the phone just now!
 

Al

Active Member
Aug 29, 2005
7,326
9
If you get rid of the a/c core and want to make the car as quick as possible, remove all the other a/c crap too as its heavy and slows the car down.

Mine just had the core removed, but if I was planning to have it as a track hack, I would have ditched the pump and all the other junk too.
 
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K1Shane

336bhp 319 lb/ft
Apr 17, 2010
730
0
Northfleet
So with an S3 IC and A/C delete, do you think it would be as good? or is it going to be better to just go all out and get the THS. I do want to upgrade my ic but i dont want to be paying stupid money for it. The THS is £550+VAT whereas the S3 is around £390 all in lol

Is it worth the extra £250? If. twinned with ST1 i only see a 1 or 2 bhp increase then i wont bother. If its going to be a better bhp aswell as super cool intake temp then i'll start saving. I'm not going to go overkill on my cupra. I'll be going stage 2. Maybe 2+ to get rid of the flat spot on st2 and for the 360BHP :) but its worth making these mods now in advance so i'm ready for it all
 
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Al

Active Member
Aug 29, 2005
7,326
9
Intercoolers dont give power gains. They stop power loss. Big difference.

If money was no object, get the THS or APR. They would be better combined with no a/c core. Also, dont expect an intercooler to resolve a flat spot issue.
 

K1Shane

336bhp 319 lb/ft
Apr 17, 2010
730
0
Northfleet
Intercoolers dont give power gains. They stop power loss. Big difference.

If money was no object, get the THS or APR. They would be better combined with no a/c core. Also, dont expect an intercooler to resolve a flat spot issue.

Ah ok, i thought they also allowed a few horses free. The flat spot i mentioned is to do with the Revo st2. I believe by gettting st2+ it eliminates the flat spot? Something to do witht he mao and fuel pump??

I'll look into it and return with exact detail lol What ic setup did you have on ur other LC?
 
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